South Elgin adds four public pickleball courts at Panton Mill Park
Four new public courts are set to open in June at Panton Mill Park, giving South Elgin players another permanent place to play beside Village Hall.
South Elgin is about to add four more places to play pickleball, and the timing matters for anyone looking for court time this summer. The new outdoor courts at Panton Mill Park are slated to open in June, giving the village another permanent public option in the heart of South Elgin rather than a private or temporary setup.
The courts will sit in Panton Mill Park, which the village describes as being in the Village Center, adjacent to Village Hall. That location already makes the park one of South Elgin’s most visible gathering spaces, with a permanent sound stage, large pavilion, restroom and concessions building, walking paths, streetscape lighting and a splash pad. The pickleball buildout folds into a park that already draws families, walkers and eventgoers, adding dedicated play space without turning the site into a single-use facility.
For players, the court count is the key detail. Four courts should create enough room for open play, beginner sessions, informal ladders and small local events, while also easing pressure on nearby courts in the Elgin area. South Elgin already has public pickleball momentum: Sperry Park reopened with three courts, and the village marked its grand opening on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at 800 Michigan Ave. That park also includes a tennis court, repaved walking and fitness trail, new pavilion, new playground, improved parking and lighting.
The village’s Parks & Recreation Department says it oversees parks, programs, open spaces and recreational facilities that enhance quality of life for residents and guests. Kim Wascher, the parks and recreation director, has more than 30 years of experience and has secured nearly $900,000 in grant funds for the upcoming Sperry Park renovation, a sign that the pickleball rollout is part of a larger push to upgrade public amenities across the village.
South Elgin also says it manages more than 56 acres of passive park land, over 125 acres of active park land and more than 200 acres of protected natural areas. Panton Mill Park itself is available for shelter and stage rentals from May 1 through Oct. 31 each year, and the village’s Summer 2026 Parks and Recreation Program & Events Guide signals a full warm-weather schedule around the time the new courts are expected to open.
The broader Fox Valley pickleball scene is growing too. An Elgin-area pickleball group says it now plays at four locations, including Sperry Park in South Elgin and a new six-court complex in Elgin. With Panton Mill Park joining that network, South Elgin is adding another public foothold to a sport that continues to spread across the suburbs, one court at a time.
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